Read this brief story and then answer one question to find out your political leanings.

A couple is sitting at a table at a sidewalk café.  Suddenly, a man walking past the couple notices the young lady’s purse on the table, quickly snatches it and runs away.  Incensed, the young lady’s boyfriend chases the thief down the sidewalk.  Aware he’s being chased, the thief tries to elude his pursuer by darting across the street into traffic.  In so doing, a speedy driver hits the thief and kills him. 

Whose fault is the man’s death? 

His own fault, right?  Had he not stolen the purse and ran, he’d still be alive.  Of course, if he wasn’t chased by the angry boyfriend, he likely would not have run into deadly traffic. Then there was the irresponsible motorist who was driving too fast.  Surely, he bears some responsibility.  What about the young lady carelessly leaving her purse out in the open, tempting passersby who might have a momentary lapse in judgment?  Lastly, we can’t forget that we live in a society with substantial wealth and income gaps, driving inequity and leading some to believe that at least some cheating and stealing should be expected in order to balance the scales. In such a short story, there is so much to consider…or is there???

Considering all the above information, what percentage of fault would you attribute to the thief for his death?

A) Less than 50%

B) More than 50%, but not entirely his fault.

C) 100% 

Scroll down to see what your answer means.

A)  You’re not a conservative. You’re a member of the modern left. Your concept of personal responsibility is that of a high school Freshman or Chicago mayoral candidate.  You cried when Trump was elected. You believe in an infinite number of genders and hate people who disagree with you because that means they are evil.  You wear a mask outside, tell people your pronouns and eat bugs to fight climate change.

B)  You’re not a conservative. You’re quite possibly a classic liberal.  This is a college campus response.  You’re intentionally overthinking the question to formulate an answer that will have those around you believing you are compassionate and pensive.  You have a “Coexist” bumper sticker. Voting for Obama was one of the best days of your life. You cheerfully got the vaccine, but drew a line at unlimited boosters. Truth be told, you probably have more in common these days with libertarians than leftist Democrats. As the saying goes, a liberal is a conservative who hasn’t been mugged yet.

C) You’re a Conservative.  You eat meat and probably own a gun. You have lived long enough to make mistakes, wrong others and have them wrong you.  The wisdom you’ve attained from real world experience has led you to the irrefutable conclusion that a man’s life is the sum of his decisions. You understand that not everyone has the same starting point or opportunities, but it is up to you to make the best of what you’ve got while helping others along the way. You hold the behavior of yourself and others to a high standard.  You don’t blame others for your mistakes, you own them and try to improve.  You understand that everything you do matters because of how it reflects upon you as well as how it affects other people.  You understand that actions have consequences, facts trump feelings and no meaning, morality, contentment or freedom in life is possible without first embracing as much responsibility as your shoulders can carry.  

As you’ve probably heard me say before, the most significant distinction between the left and the right is how each side views personal responsibility. That is really the arching theme of the brief story. It is meant to uncover how much ownership you give people over their own decisions and actions, as that is a defining principle of conservatism. So how did you do? If you didn’t pick C, listen, that’s okay. Just read two Ayn Rand books and call me in the morning.